Food: Horse Meat

Lord Higgins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers the European Union has to prevent the origin of horsemeat for human consumption being labelled as from the country where it is sold, rather than the country from which the horse was recently imported live.

Baroness Thornton: Under European Union law, a food product, including horsemeat, may be legally labelled as coming from the country where it was last processed.

Internet: Broadband

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use spare television spectrum to improve access to broadband facilities in rural areas.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: The Government announced their wireless radio spectrum modernisation programme as part of their Digital Britain report. One of the key elements was making the spectrum released through Digital Switchover available for next generation mobile services. The Government intend to apply coverage conditions to licences issued using this spectrum, which will contribute to maximising the reach of these services. The Government are currently consulting on the proposals in the spectrum modernisation programme.
	The Government are also undertaking studies looking at the coexistence of white space devices within the digital TV environment, which would utilise spare television spectrum more efficiently.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 12 November (WA 234-5) concerning the St Andrews Agreement, what is the outstanding business concerning an Irish Language Act which has to be concluded.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In the St Andrews Agreement the Government committed to introducing an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and to work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. Subsequently, in the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, a duty was placed on the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt a strategy to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. This strategy is still in preparation.
	In addition, the Government published two consultation papers, in December 2006 and March 2007, setting out its proposed approach to an Irish Language Act. However, at the point of devolution in May 2007 responsibility for the Irish language, and for taking forward any legislation in this area, passed to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Vehicles: Electric Power

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 28 October (WA 168-70), whether they will require those researching the extent of any problems of using electric cars on the highway to examine the effect on road users who are required to travel in the direction of traffic.

Lord Adonis: The research Her Majesty's Government are undertaking will examine accident statistics for quiet hybrid and electric vehicles, and characterise the noise emissions of such vehicles compared with similar vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. The investigation will concentrate in particular on whether such vehicles pose an increased risk to the visually impaired. Although not the focus of the research, the findings may also be applicable to sighted road users, including those travelling in the direction of traffic.